Japanese Sword--Translation Help

[RonR]

This sword has a small ribbon attached with Japanese writing, and would appreciate help with the translation please.

Also the meaning of the sword knot, as this is not a field in which I am familiar, but would like to learn.

Lots of pictures of this sword for review.

[RonR]

[RonR]

[RonR]

[RonR]

[RonR]

[RonR]

[RonR]

[RonR]

[RonR]

[RonR]

[RonR]

[RonR]

[RonR]

[Steve Flanagan]

Sword

Nice example of a parade sword, lower ranks as the higher the rank the more decorations you will find down the length of the backstrap of the sword. The ribbon is a surrender tag which will probably tell you owners name and general address where he lived. Eddoko may drift through and translate tag for us, The knot is a model 1912 "German Style" used on these swords for those under the rank of Major General according to the "Swords of Imperial Japan Cyclopedia Edition" by Jim Dawson,,an excellent reference should you be looking for one.